Ratchet mechanism for reclining-chairs.



No. 793,274. PATBNTED JUNE 27, 1905. 0. P. BREITHUT.

RATCHBT MBCHANISM POR RECLINING CHAIRS.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 1,1904.

NWI l I Ww 70/ Ar Pipa.

2 d3 Snowdon Witnesses, 0.2 B76 Z'l/u,

UNITED STATES Patented June 27, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

RATCHET MECHANISNI FOR RECLlNING-CHAIRS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,274, dated June 27, 1905.

Application filed November 1, 1904. Serial No. 231,007.

To m/ w/w'nt if may concern:

Be it known that l, Ose/AR P. Bnnrrnu'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at filliamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State of .l ennsylvania, have .invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ratchet Mechanism for lteclining-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

Chairs, couches, and like articles of furniture provided with adjustable backs or similar rest are usually equipped with a self-acting ratchet mechanism to hold the adjustable back, rest, or like support in the required adjusted position. Such ratchet mechanism as commonly provided acts on the upward movement of the support to retain it in an adjusted position, but permits said support to have an uninterrupted backward movement, or vice versa.

This invention provides a ratchet mechanism of novel formation which will act in both directions both in the upward and forward or down ward and backward movement ofthe su pport, whereby a great and faried adjustment of the latter is obtainable and rapid and dangerous movement guarded against. Y For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquirea knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still some of the preferred embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which--- Figure l is a side view of a reclining-chair embodying the invention, the dotted lines showing an adjusted position of the back and a portion of the housing' being' broken away to expose the ratchet mechanism. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the ratchet mechanism and adjunctive parts on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line ,r rr of `Fig. L). Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modiiication.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

rlhc invention is shown applied to the back of a reclining-chair, although it is to be understood that it may be used in connection with the head-rest of a couch or similar adjustable support of an article of furniture having a rest adjustable to various angles. The back, rest, or support is indicated at l, and a brace or connection Q is connected at one end to the part l, and its opposite end is constructed to cooperate with a ratchet contrivance. As shown, the free end of the brace or connection Q is bent laterally, as indicated at 3, and is arranged to cooperate with the teeth or shoulders of the ratchet. For convenience of disposition the ratchet is arranged beneath the arm s of the chair and is suitably housed or incased to prevent disarrangement of the parts or anything from coming in contact therewith. The brace or connection 2 operates through a slot or opening `formed in the rear end of the housing 'lhe ratchet is designated by the reference-numeral 6 and may be of any construction and comprises a series of teeth 7, having their front edges squared and their upper edges rearwardly inclined to admit of the bent end 3 riding upon the teeth as the back or support l is moved upward or forward. ln the upward or forward adjustment of the back or support l the bent or engaging end 3 of the part 2 drops in front of each tooth immediately upon clearing the same, so that upon releasing the support it will be held in the located position. A corresponding series of teeth or shoulders 8 are disposed below the series of teeth T and have a rearward arrangement and are adapted to coperatc with the engaging end of the brace Q to retard the backward or downward movenient of the support l and hold it in an adjusted position. The teeth or shoulders 8 preferably have a rearward and downward inclination, although this is not essential within the purview of the invention. The teeth S are horizontal and separated by notches 9, which receive the bent or engagingcnd 3 and in conjunction with the teeth S prevent its casual downwarddisplacement. Companion tongues or projections LO extend over corresponding IOC) tongues 8 into the notches 9, leaving a space between opposing parts to provide a free passage for the engaging end 3. The tongues or projections 10 receive and support the part 3 when it clears and drops from an upper tongue or projection 8, so as to insure the part 3 engaging the next tooth or shoulder 8 in successive order. The lower rear edge 11 of the ratchet is upwardly and rearwardly inclined, and the upper rear edge 12 is rearwardly and downwardly inclined, the oppositely-inclined edges 11 and 12 intersected to form the point 13. A fiat spring 14 is arranged below the inclined edge 11 and is secured at its lower end to the housing or other convenient part of the frame, and its upper end is free and bears against the point 13 and projects a short distance from said point to support the engaging end 3 of the brace when the back or support 1 is at its lowest adjustment. The projecting end of the spring 14 insures engagement of the bent end 3 with the inclined edge 12 of the ratchet, whereby in the upward movement of the back or support 1 the brace or connection 2 will cooperate with the upper series of teeth 7.

The ratchet may consist of a single part or may comprise separate pieces attached to a plate or other support. The construction shown in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as that illustrated in the other views,the only difference being in the formation of the tongues or projections 10, which are pointed or tapered, and in having the teeth or shoulders 8 arranged at a more rapid inclination.

The back or support 1 may be adjusted by direct application of force thereto by grasping the same. However, for convenience a pull rod or bar 15 is connected to the support and extends beneath the arm 14 and is provided with a knob o'r finger-piece 16. It is to be understood that a ratchet mechanism and pull-rod are provided for each side of the chair or other article of furniture to which the invention may be applied, so as to form a substantial connection.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In combination, an adjustable support, a ratchet having oppositely-arranged sets of teeth, and a connection attached to said support and cooperating with the oppositely-arranged teeth of the ratchet to positively hold said support in an adjusted position when moved either upward and forward or backward and downward, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination, an adjustable support, a connection extended therefrom and having an engaging portion, notches or shoulders arranged to automatically cooperate with the engaging end of said connection to hold the support in an adjusted position when moved backward or downward, said notches or shoulders having forward projections to receive and support said engaging end, and companion projections cooperating with the projections of said shoulders to insure the engaging of the aforesaid connection therewith, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination, an adjustable support, a connection attached thereto and having an engaging portion, a ratchet having upper and lower sets of teeth inversely disposed for cooperation with the engaging end of said connection to hold the support in an adjusted position either upon its forward and upward or backward and rearward movement, and tongues overlapping' the respective lower teeth and cooperating therewith, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination, an adjustable support, a connection attached thereto and having an engaging portion, a ratchet having upper and lower sets of teeth inversely disposed for cooperation with the engaging end of said connection to hold the support in an adjusted position either upon its forward and upward or backward and rearward movement, tongues overlapping the respective lower teeth and cooperating therewith, said ratchet having the upper and lower edges of its rear portion oppositely inclined to a point, and a flat spring arranged below the lower inclined edge and projected beyond said point, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR P. BREITHUT. 

